Dispensing cabinet



Nov. 27, 1928.

' 3,693,458 8. G. PATTERSON DISPENSING CABINET Filed April 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ZPII Q n 6 Ev r? ATTORNEYS Nov. 27, 1928; N 3,693,458

a. G. PATTERSON DISPENSING CABINET Filed April 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Bag 0mm $.PZzfih-son.

BYM

ATTORNEYS Passes Nov. 2?, i928.

nnirs stares DISPENSING CABINET.

Application filed April 29, 192?. Serial No. 18?,541.

This invention relates to dispensing cabinets and more particularly to a sanitary cabi net involving certain novel and advantageous constructions and adapted particularly to hold in bulk and dispense separately articles of a cylindrical nature such as the sanitary paper straws used in drinking various beverages.

One feature of the invention consists in the provision of a stationary cylindrical easing provided with a longitudinal discharge slot and an internal cylindrical dispensing cage within which the straws or other cylindrical objects to be dispensed are carriedin bulk, the cage being provided with a plurality of spaced article carriers arranged to transport a succession of articles and to present them successively in dispensing relation to the discharge slot of the casing. Preferably means areiprovided which are normally effective to arrest the dispensing cage in its successive arrivals at. dispensing position.

A further feature of the invention consists in the combination of dispensing cabinet and display or advertising medium in which the operation of the dispensing portion of the mechanism and its arrival in dispensing position causes a coincident presentation of advertising matter to view.

Another feature of the invention consists in the novel construction of dispensing. means in which a rotatable cylindrical cage provided with a plurality of carriers is effective to pick up and trap single straws or other cylindrical articles; and raise them upwardly to a transfer table by which they are carried to a different type of article carrier which in the continued rotation of the machine presents them to the discharge opening.

Further features of the invention consists in the construction hereinafterdescribed pro.- viding for a dispensing cabinet which may be economically manufactured from stamped sheet metal; that is closed and dust'proof at all tiinesjthat may be refilled with paper straws or other articles in bulkfrom' the original package without touching by handthe contents of'the package, and that is especially adapted for-use in the dispensing of paper straws for drinking purposes. 7 j

Apreferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail in the following specification which should be read in con junction with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof and in which Figure l a front elevation eta dispens ng cabinet constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical section through said cabinet, the base thereof being shown partly in section,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical central section through the cylinder of the cabinet,

Figure 4: is an end elevation of the upper end of said cabinet, i

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the dispensing cage showing the manner of connection of the straw carriers therewith and the means used in conjunction with these carriers and providing the advertising or display label holding means, and

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the combined dust shield and transfer table with its associated end cabinet ring.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, 1 indicates a cylindrical casing having a base bracket 2 whose lower face rests'upon the cooperating upper face 3 of the neck of a hollow supporting base l designed to rest upon a table or stand and swivelled together by the bolt and nut 5 (Figs. 2 and 3), so that the cabinet may be rotated about its axis andmade to serve all of the occupants of a table when placed in the center thereof. The lower front portion of the cylinder 1 is provided with a longitudinal slot 6 therein forming a discharge opening for the straws or other articles of the dis.- pensing cabinet and at determinately spaced points above the lower edge of the opening '6 the c dinder is )rovided with alined longir tudinal openings 7 and 8 in parallel with the slot 6 and forming exhibit and display openings as will be later pointed out. Below the lower edge of the discharge or dispensing slot 6 and at spaced points between its ends, brackets 9 are secured, these brackets serving to receive and support the (lispcnscd articles and in the case of paper drinking strawsthe brackets being spaced so that the ends of the straw are not touched by the brackets.

The cylinder 1, which may be formed of sheet metal, has one end closed by a solid disk 10 which maybe integrally formed therewith orbrazed thereon. This diskis cent ally apertured to permit the operating shaft of a. cylindrical dispensing cage to extend therethrough. This dispensing cage is formed by an end disk ll'fitted at one end of the cylindrical casing 1 and by an end ring 13 at the opposite end of the casing. The ring 13 and disk 11 conform in. external hamster approxv.

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opposite wall of the notch. This w posite side of the strip 14 inatcly with the internal diameter oi? the cylinder 1 and are interconnected by a plurality of equally spaced longitudinally ex tending strips 1 1 forming, as will be later seen, both straw carriers and display label supports. In order to attach the strips 14- to the end members 11 and 13 the disk 11 has its peripheral edge notched as at 12 at appropriately spaced points. The strip 1a is provided on one longitudinally extending side with an upwardly extending flange 15 inturned at alternate high and low points to provide a series of lugs 16 and 1. at this side of the strip. The flange 15 at the disk end 11 of the cage will engage with one ot the walls ot the notch 12 and at the opposite side of the strip the vertical wall 19 cnr'a es the all 19 as shown in Fig. 5, is formed as part of a separate flange strip whose horizontal taco 18 is secured to the edge oi the strip 14, spacing the vertical. walls 19 inwardly therctron'i. T he walls 19 similarly to the walls 15 at the opare bent to form alternate high and low hi 20 and 21. These lugs and the vertical walls 19 and at the end of the strip cooperating with'the ring 13 are insettrom the edge of the strip to enable that edge of the strip designated at 22 in Fig. 5 to overlie and be attached to the under edge of the ring 13 with the adjacent flanges 15 and 19 abutting against the inner face of the ring.

As shown, a series of six equally spaced strips 14 are carried at equally spaced intervals circumterentially around the cage formed by the c isk 11 and ring 13 interconnected by the strips 14. V fhile the said disk and ring will form bearings within the cylinder 4: ot the cage, it is necessary to provide 0::- ternal means 'lc-r rotating the and to this end a shaft 23, pinned at its inner end to the disk 11 extends through the central opening in the end 100i the cylinder casing); 1 and terminates at its outer end in knurled operating knob 24:. The shaft 23 beyond tlleeili. of the casing,

25 pinned thereto, its notches corresponding to the carrier strip 14 in number and radial position. A wheel 26 mounted in a spring; arm 27 on disk 10 engages in the notches of disk 25 as the latter is rotated through the knob 24L and normally is effective to stop dispensing cage, when partially rotated, in this case, one-sixth ot rotation. This partial rotation as will be seen later is effective to present straw or other articles in dispensing relation to the dischargeopening (3 and the roller and dctent wheel described will he e1- tective to permit a. successive series of stops in successive dispensing positions of the dispensing cage mounted within the cylinder. This cage in order to dispense must be rotated in one direction only. rotation in the reverse direction a toothed 15 provided with a notched disk In order to prevent ratchet wheel 30 with its teeth facing in the appropriate direction is pinned to the shaft 23 and is held against rotation in the said reverse direction by means oi a pawl 31 pivoted at 82 on the end 10 of the casing and held in ratchet engaging position by a leaf spring 33.

The-end of the cylindr'cal casing 1 opposite to the operating knob 24 is strengthened by an attached ring 3 1, from the outer taco of which headed studs 35 proj ect. Secured to l forming part of this ring and projecting therefrom inwardly ot-and for the full extentot this 7 cylindrical casing is a shield 36 which ere tends within the dispensing cage with clearance therefrom and is positioned with its lowor end opposed to the discharge opening 6 and its upper end above the exhibit openings and 8 and reaching; approximately to the top of the cylinder. This shield is effective as a dust shield to maintain the cleanly condition of the articles stored in bulk VJlL-hlll the dispensing cage, its upper end cooperating with the article carrying strips 14c and with the cylinder casing 1 to act as a transfer table or runway by means of whichthe carried at icles at the limit of their upward movement are delivered from one carrierto a preceding adjacent carrier by'gravity, the latter, as the cage continues to rotate, descending with the article to bring it into dispensing relation with the slot 6. i

The interior of the cylinder 1within the dispensing cage at the end. where the ring 13 is positioned is enclosed and the straws or other articles maintained within the cage by means of a removable cylinder head 37 having an outer flange key-hole slotted 38 to cothe central portion 39 extending tlsough the rings 84: and 13 to bring its inner edge in the plane ot the inner edge of ring 13. A hand hold 40 projects centrally from block rotating the block to bring the studs 15 in the enlarged ends of the key-hole slots. the block may be removed and the interior of the cage filled appropriately full with straws or other articles to be dispensed. The operation of the dispensing cabinet will now be described, it being understood that a series of advertising or exhibiting labels are inserted over the strips 14 with their ed 's held between the spaced lugs 1617, 20-21 to present theselabels to the openings 7 and 8 as the dispensing cage is rotated. V

Assuming that the end piece 39 has been removed from the end of the cylinder 1 and a supply of so-called drinking straws have 7 lufi lid

l'lii 2) will fall in the space between adjacent strips 14, but as the strips are progressively raised toward the top of the cylinder 1 the surplus straws will drop oif and fall back into the interior of the cage. As the one particular carrier whose operation we, are following approaches the top of the cage, all straws save one which is retained by the ledge or shoulder 18 from dropping off, will have been redeposited Within the interior of, the cage. This same operation is taking place with the carrier next in rear ofthe one under discussion. Now, as the firstmentioned carrier approaches the top of the cylinder its forward end overlies the top'edge of the arcuate plate 36 which is positioned adjacent to the top center point of the cylinder with its face very closely adjacent to the inner face of the cage, therefore, as the carrier reaches this point its straw will drop from the led e or shelf 18 forwardly onto the curved p ate whose arcuate face corresponds with that of the cage or cylinder, forming with the interior face of the cylinder an arcuate downwardly extending gravity chute, the plate 36 extending down to. a point below the lower edge of the discharge opening 6 and additionally serving to protect the interior contents of the cage from dust entering through the discharge opening.

' ti-oned so that the straw will mouth norliquid end of As the straw drops from its carrier onto the plate 36it rolls by gravity downwardly until it isstopped and rests against the surface 15 at the rear of the. next preceding carriermemberoft-hecage. Asshowmthecageis provided with siX separate carrier members and is rotated through successive one-sixths of a revolution, its rotating movement being arrested at each one-sixth of a revolution by the roller detent 26 engaging in one of the six notches in the disk 25, which rotates with the drum. The cage will therefore have its rotary movement'arrested with a transferred straw supported by the face'l5 of a preceding carrier, thenext preceding carrier being at the straw discharged position and held there by the detent roll and notched disk as stated. When the carrier approaches the lower edge of the discharge chute 6 it is posidrop therefrom and through the discharge slot and will rest upon the spaced hooks 9 which, in the case of drinking straws are appropriately spaced relative to the opening so that neither the the straw is in contact therewith, the middle portion being placed between the two hooks 9 is very conhand. v j

The dispensing cabinet as herein oescribed is of the portable type and is use on the tables in restaurants and other places where beverages are sold and is constructed. for convenient use by all persons veniently positioned for grasping by the ing is intended to limited to straw dispensing intended for seated at or around the table by reason of its swivelled base support. This will permit the horizontal supporting cylinder 1 to be turned to face any one seated at the table, permitting the operating knob 2st to be turned to eject a straw.

The dispensing cabinet combines with its dispensing feature in a very advantageous manner, a display feature which is operated coincidently with the dispensing action of the machine as follows:

As I have previously mentioned the bars 14 which form the article carriers and interconnect the ends of the dispensing cage are formed at opposite edges with a series of spaced lugs between which the opposite edges of an advertising or display label is to be inserted. The alined slots 7 and 8 are determinately spaced circlnnferentially of the cylinder and this determinate spacing has a direct bearing upon the spacing between the article carriers. In other words, this spacbe such that when an article carrier is positioned at the lower edge of the discharge slot, as shown in Fig. 2, the next adjacent carrier upwardly therefrom will be positioned so that its central portion extends across and is alined within the slots 7 and 8 thereby displaying through said slots the advertising label carried thereon. This will be true of each successive straw dispensing operation of the machine, the positioning of the labels for display being coincident with the straw dispensing movements of the carriers.

The described dispensing cabinet has been devised specifically to store in bulk and dispense one at a time the paper straws used for beverage drinking purposes. While the mechanism has been specifically designed to this end it is obviously adapted for use in connection with articles of a cylindrical nature the structure is capable of adaptation to a coin or check controlled vending device. Therefore in considering the scope of the invention 1 do not desire to be specifically cabinets except as may be necessary by the language of the claims or the state of the prior art.

VVhatI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1. A dispensing machine comprising in combination a stationary cylindricalcasing having a discharge slot therein, a base for supporting the casing in horizontal position, a cylindrical dispensing cage concentrically and rotatably mounted within said casing, means for storing in biilkwitliiii said the articles to be dispensed, means cooperating with said cage and cylindrical casing as said cage is rotated to select and transport a succession of stored articles in units of a predetermined number up and around the easing and to prcsei t them in succession to said discharge slot, means normally effective to the casing, a has sive article 'tions, and a plurality o'l: display labels 01' arrest said cage at each presentation of an article to said slot, and means for preventing rotation of said cage in the reverse direction.

2. A dispensing machine comprising in combination a stationary cylindrical casing having a discharge slot therein extending longitudinally of the lower front portion of for supporting the casing in horizontal position, a cylindrical dispensing cage concentrically and rotatably mounted within said casing and arranged to receive therewith and. store in bulk articles ol. a cylindrical nature, said cage being mounted for rotation in one direction only and means including article litters and carriers and a transfer platform, cooperating with said cage and casing to pick up and lift a stored article during partof the ca revolution up to said platform an d thcree" c r cause the transfer of said article to another carrier for a further part of the revolution to present said article to said discharge slot. Y

3. A dispensing machine comprising in combination, a stationary cylindrical casing having a discharge slot therein, base for supporting the casing in horizontal position, a cylindrical dispensing cage rotatably mounted within said c sing and arranged to receive therewith and store in bulk the articles to be dispensed, said rage carrying article carriers having opposed article supporting surfaces, a transfer member at the top of the casing below said cage arranged and operative to receive articles from carriers as they move upwardly and transfer them forwardly to an adjacent and preceding downwardly moving carrier.

4:. In a dispensing machine the combination of astationary cylindrical casing having a discharge slot and a. determinately spaced exhibit opening therein, means to support said casing in a horizontal position, a dis pensing cage concentrically and rotatably mounted within said casing and having a plru-ality oi determinately spaced dispensing article carriers movable ith said cage to present and discharge carried articles through said discharge slot, means normally ellective to stop and hold said cage in succesdischarging or dispensing posic'ards mounted on and carried by said cage in such determi; e spaced relation to each other and to said a ticle car :rs that successive label or cards will be posi cloned in alinement with the exhibit opening of the casing concurrently with the aforesaid successive stops of the cage in article dispensing position.

5. A dispensing machine having in combination, a stationary casing having an article discharge opening and a doterminately spaced exhibit opening, a support provided vit-h a dispensing article carrier mounted within said casing for movement with said carrier toward and from article dispensing position aline with the exhibit opening of the casing when the article carrier reaches the said dispensing position.

'6. A dispensing machine having in combination, a stationary casing having an article discharge opening and a determinately spaced exhibit opening,- a dispensing cage revolubly mounted within said casing and supporting a plurality of determinately spaced article carriers thereon and also a plurality of display or advertising label holders in spaced relation to each other and to said article carriers, means whereby said cage may be rotated to present successive article carriers in article dispersing relation to said discharge opening, said label holders being thereby sucressively positioned to aline with the exhibit opening in said casing, and means normally effective to arrest said cage in successive article dispensing position with the of said dispensing cage with a carrier and a label holder so alined.

8. In a dispensing machine, in combination, a cylindrical casing having a discharge and a display exhibit opening therein in determinate peripherally spaced relation, means to support said casing in horizontal position, a cylindrical dispensing cage rotatably and concentrically mounted within said casing and having a plurality of longitudinally extending membersperipherally spaced to correspond to the peripheral spacing of said discharge and display openings, said members being constructed to provide dispensing article carriers and being arranged to receive and hold display labels positioned thereon to aline with the casing display exhibit opening, and means normally efi'ective to arrest rotation of the said cage with adjacent longitudinally extending members alined with said discharge and display openings of the casing.

lcu

opening in front, a cylindrical dispensing cage rotatably mounted within said casing, a plurality of peripherally spaced article carriers mounted on and rotating with said cage upwardly from the back, forwardly and downwardly to article discharge position, a stationary arcuate article receiving and transferring platform mounted within said cage and extending from a point adjacent the top center, forwardly and downwardly, said article carriers being each formed with peripherally spaced opposite article supporting faces, one of which is efiective to pick up and lift a pred-eterminedly limited number of articles stored in bulk within the dispensing cage and transport it upwardly and to dis charge it upon said platform from which it passes to and is supported by the said opposite face of the preceding downwardly moving carrier, the said opposite face of the carrier which has discharged its article being effective in the next stage of downward and forward movement similarly to receive, support and carry the article discharged by the carrier next rearwardly of it, and means normally effective to arrest rotative move ment of the cage with its carriers in succes' sive article discharging position.

10. In a dispensing machine, the combination of a stationary cylindrical casing having a discharge opening therein, a cylindrical dispensin cage rotatably and concentrically mounted within said casing, a stationary arcuate plate concentric to and within said cage adjacent to the top of the casing and closely adjacent the inner face of the cage, and article carriers mounted on and rotating with said cage and constructed and arranged to lifta predeterminedly limited number of the articles stored in bulk within the cage and to transport it to and deposit it on said plate for transfer forwardly and clown- I wardly.

11. In a dispensing machine, the combination, of a stationary cylindrical casing having a discharge opening therein, a cylindrical dispensing cage rotatably and concentrically mounted within said casing, a stationary arcuate transfer platform concentric to said casing and cage and positioned closely adjacent to the inner face of the cage and extending from a point adjacent to its top forwardly and downwardly toward said discharge opening, and article carriers mounted on and rotating with said cage and con structcd and arranged to lift a predeterminedly limited number of the articles stored in bulk within the cage and to transport it to and deposit it on said platform, the inner face of the casing cooperating with said platform and with it forming an arcuate downwardly extending gravity chute for the articles so transferred.

12. In a dispensing machine, the combination of a stationary cylindrical casing having a discharge opening therein, a cylindrical dispensing cage rotatably and concentrically mounted within said casing, a stationary arcuat-e transfer platform concentric to said casing and cage and positioned closely adjacent to the inner face of the cage and extend ing from a point adjacent to its top forwardly and downwardly toward said discharge opening, and article carriers mounted on and rotating with said cage and constructed and arranged to lift a predeterminedly limited number of the articles stored in bulk within the cage and to transport it to and de posit it on said platform to a point beyond said discharge opening and cooperating with the opposite interior face ofthe caslng to provide a curved downwardly inclining gravity chute for articles so deposited, the lower portion of said platform closing the inner side of the dispensing cage at the discharge opening and serving as a dust shield for the articles stored within the cage.

13. In a dispensing machine for drinking straws orthe like, in combination, a stationary cylindrical casing having a longitudinal discharge slot therein and closed at one end, a cylindrical dispensing cage closed at one end and rotatably mounted within said casing with its closed end at the closed end of said casing and its open end positioned at the said open end of said casing, and a removable head arranged for detachable interlocking engagement with the open casing end and provided with a portion fitting within and closing the open end of said dispensing cage. 7

BENJAMIN G. PATTERSON. 

